Current rectifier and voltage regulator and circuits therefor



Feb. 12, 1929. 1,701,751

\ T. E. FQULKE CURRENT RECTIFIER AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND CIRCUITS THEREFOR File d July 9, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 6 I m T467 HI'1I'I I mm vmw 2y TOR .douzv HIS ATTORNEY Feb. 12, 1929.

T. E. FOULKE CURRENT RECTIFIER AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND CIRCUITS THEREFOR 4 Shts-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1927 Feb. 12, 1929. 1,701,751

T. E. FOULKE CURRENT RECTIFIER AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND CIRCUITS THEREFOR Filed July 9, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 HI ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 1 2, 1929. i

' UNITED STATES p 1,101,151 PATENT ornca.

TED E. FOULKE, Oi NU'I'LE Y, NEW JERSEY, AS IIGHOR T0 COOPER KIWI!!! ELECTRIC COMPANY, 01 HOIBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0] NW JERSEY.

ouammr imcrmmn AND vonmen uncommon am) cmcurrs rn'aanron.

Application filed m a, 1927. Serial No. 204,545.

My present invention relates to electrical devices for controlling the flow of electrical currents through influence of characteristics of the ionic conduction of currents between solid electrodes in gases or vapors. The invention relates more particularly to an ionic device for converting alternatlng currents into a rectified current and for regulating the voltage of the rectified current to maintain it within given and comparatively narrow limits. The invention also relates to systems of electrical distribution including a device of the kind above described and also relates to a new getter for use in and in combination with the electronic device of the present invention and in combination in gaseous conduction and space discharge conducting devices in general.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following particular descriptionof forms of ionic devices and electrical circuits embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also consists in certain new and novel features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration certain forms of devices and electrical circuits em bodying the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in elevation of an embodiment of the ionic device of the v invention.

Figs. 2 to 6 are diagrammatic views in elevation of ionic devices embodying the invention with systems of electrical distribution connected thereto.

Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrams of a system of electrical distribution including the element of the ionic devices of the invention, and

Fig. 9 illustrates details of construction of the device of Fig. 1.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

According to'the invention a single electrode element is used for two separate functions and forms a part of two different combination of elements. One of these combinations has the function of rectifying an alterand in the other combination this element serves as the anode in an electronic glow discharge type of voltage regulator. Between the plate and point of the rectifier combination there is provided a suitable atmosphere of gas or vapor such as mercury, argon, helium neon and between the glow discharge voltage re lator elements there is provided an atmosp ere of a suitable gas or vapor, but preferable means are arranged for preventing gaseous conduction between the rectifier points and the voltage regulator anode. Such conduction means in some gases permit of pressure equalization between the atmosphere in two spaces. The atmosphere of the rectifier space and the atmosphere of the regulator space are composed of the same gases or vapors or mixtures thereof, and at the same or different pressures.

The preferred embodiment of the electronic device of the invention, however, is

that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 9 of the drawing in which a sealed envelope 1 of glass or other suitable material has a reentrant seal-in stem 2 through which is sealed into the envelope the lead 4 which supports and is electrically connected to the regulator cathode 6 which'is in the form of a cylinder of metal wire gauze, of nickel, tungsten, iron or other suitable material. This glow discharge regulator cathode 6 being in the form of gauze and extending over a considerable surface as it does through being formed in the shape of a cylinder of appreciable dameter has two advantageous characteristics, namely, it represents a comparatively and sufiiciently large glow discharge area and at the same time prevents over-heatin and allows cooling of other electrode. e ements co-operating therewith. A second sealed-in lead-1n 8 connects to and supports the electrode element 10 which is positioned concentrically within said electrode 6 and has its sides at a distance from said electrode 6 tosuit a glow discharge function with a suitable atmosphere therebetween for voltage regulation purposes. Said cylindrical electrode 10 is preferably ofmetal such as nickel, iron, tungsten, or other suitable metal and is closed atthe top and the bottom. Preferably the closure of said cylinder 10 is not hermetic or gas tight, to facilitate supplying gaseous atmosphere for the interior of said cylinder 10 and for the space between it and the exterior electrode 6, minute passageways or openings are provided through the wall of said closed cylmade by spot welding the end members '14 and 15 to t e ends of said cylinder 10 at different points thereabout to hold the side and ends close together and yet leaving minute passageways of the order of size above indicated. Said bottom member 14 has therethrough two openings 16, 16 through which extend the seal-in stems 1 7, 17 mounted onto said stem 2 and which are of glass tubing.-

From outside said envelope 1 there extends two lead-ins 20, 20 each of which extends through said stem 2 where 'it is sealed-in, longitudinally through a respective stem .17 at the sides of which it is spaced apart except at the inner end where the stem 17 is sealed thereto, a shoulder sleeve 22 is mounted on and supported by the end of each of said stems 20, 20 and is kept in osit'ion thereon bythe terminal portion 24 o respective leadins 20, 20 which extend therethrough and which is flattened laterally above the end of the sleeve to a dimension greater than the bore at the upper end of the sleeve. Said sleeve 22, 22 are of such size and fit as close to said openings 16, 16 against ionic or aseous conduction between the interior an exterior of said cylinder 10. The said sleeves 22, 22 are preferably of such material as lavite or quartz which does not dissociate with the evolution ofwater vapor or other ases or vapors upon atomic bombardment iihereof during use of the device and serve to prevent such dissociation of the glass stems 20, 20 over which they extend and prevent consequent evolution of deleterious gas or vaporous materials. These electrodes 24, 24 co-operate as anodes or point electrodes with electrodes 6 as cathode in a point to plate current rectifying combination. As indicated by dotted lines a partition 26 is used in some cases to completely separate said electrodes 24, 24 to prevent the formation of a positive column discharge therebetween, preferably, however, the device is made of such gaseous pressure characteristics that positivecolumn discharge will not occur between said electrodes 24, 24 and the indicated partition 26, is not used. In-the preferred embodiment of the invention an atmosphere is provided therein of helium, neon, argon or mercur vapor, a getter of alkaline metal such as'litliium, sodium or magnesium is provided in the envelope 1 to purify and to keep pure the atmosphere of the device.

In a device whose parts have dimensions comparable to those of similar ionic devices in general use on currents of similar values a device embodying the invention in the form illustrated in Figure 1, having magnesium as a getter and an'atmos hereof helium at a pressure of about 10 millimeters of mercury will rectify an alternating current of a value up to about 150 milliamperes at a voltage at definite values between 80 and- 250 and will regulate the recited voltage within narrow limits, namely within 4 to 5 volts between no load and full load. A similar device with sodium as a getter and with an atmosphere of about 10 millimeters of helium or of about 6 to 7 millimeters of neon and'alternating current voltages between about 180 to 260 will rectify andfwill control the voltage of the rectified current to keep it within narrow limits either side of about 100 volts. In'the making of the device illustrated in 1 the getter is applied by placin original getter material'within said cylin er 10. The interior of the tube is heated during the exhausting of the tube preliminary to filling it with its operatingeatmosphere by producm a glow discharge tween the electrodes 6 an 10 or by placing the device within the influence of a high frequency inductive heater.

The heatin of the device at this stage clears the materia of the electrodes and of the-envelope and other parts of gases and at the same time the getter material is heated and vaporized, the metal thereof passing to and depositing itself over the interior of electrode 10 and onto the electrodes 24, 24 and also passes through the minute 0 nings left or provided through wall of said electrode 10 to the space outside thereof whereby it asses .to and is deposited on the interior 0 said electrode 10 and onto" the mesh of said electrode 6. The getter material from which the getter is distilled or vaporized is of such material as lithium, sodium or magnesium in the metal form.

.I have conceived the ideathatthe etter can be applied in a wa and which will aid in t e evacuation of the envelope 1 and in leaving the getter in the pure and highly reactive state in the finished device. ThIS method is that of supplying the original etter material in the .form of a compoun'fof'the final getter which compound upon being heated dissociates into the getter element and into an element or elements which are in the form of a gas which will serve to carry out from the envelope 1 other gases which are more easily combined with the getter element. Asan example of material suitable and highly useful for this pur ose which is di erent ,I used sodium azide. This compound w ich I from the envelope and gas forced out of the electrodes, envelope wall and other parts by heating will be pushed out of the envelope asthe nitrogen gas is evolved upon the dissociation of the sodium azide. The great volume of gas produced provides the effect of repeated rinsing of the interior of the envelope and the parts therein from other gases and that the final pumping or exhausting of the envelope will be of nitrogen gas alone.

This gives the highly desired result of leaving the dissociated sodium metal in a state which is substantially pure. It further provides that there is left in the envelope 1 no gas for combination with the sodium but possibly very small residiual quantity of nitrogen. As sodium will combine with nitrogen in the, portions of one atom of sodium to 7 of nitrogen and there being very little nitrogen left in the envelope the sodium is left in a very ure and-highly eflicient getter state. That is, t e sodium is left substantially completely free to combine with gases or vapors Y which are evolved from the walls of the envelope and the electrodes and other parts therein during and as a result of the operation of the device and thereby provides a device of long life. The sodium azide is in the preparation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 first added in the interior of said cylinder 6 as above described supplied within said cylinder 10 and vaporized and later condensed and deposited on the parts of the device all as above described.

In Fig. 2 of thedrawingthe envelope 30l1aving a filling of a rare as has mounted therein the closed hollow cylinder electrode 32 from which extends the connecting lead 34 which is sealed through the wall of said envelope 30. The insulated stems 36 carry the sealed-in electrodes 38 which terminate within said cylinder electrode 32 and serve as point electrodes therefor in a point to plate rectifier combination. The lavite or silica sleeves protect such part of stems 36, 36 as may be subjected to atomic bombardment and consequent evolution of gases or vapors during use of the devices. Mounted on top of said cylinder 32 and insulated therefrom by the disc 42 and the sleeve 44 is the open top cup electrode 46. Through said sleeve or bushing 44 there projects into said cup 46 an electrical conducting extension 48 of said electrode 32. A co-operating terminal 50 connected to the interior of cup 46 terminates at a distance fromsaid terminal 48 suitable for glow discharge therebetween. A sealeddn lead-in connector 52 is provided for said electrode 46.

In the wiring diagram included in Fig. 2 the secondary 54 of a transformer is connected across said lead ins 38, 38 the transformer primary 56 serving for energization of the device from a suitable source of alternating current not shown. From an intermediate point on said secondary 54 and through an inductance or choke coil 58 connection is made through said lead 34 to said electrode 32.

A rectified current positive output main 60 connects to said lead 34 and a co-operating negative output main 62 connects to an intermediate point on said inductance 58. Across said mains 60 and 62 is connected a condenser 64 and said electrode 46'is connected through lead 52 and a connector 66 to said main 62 at a point between said inductance 58 and condenser 64. As above indicated the terminals of said leads '38, 38 co-operate with said electrode 32 as a point to plate current rectifying combination, and saidtermin'als 48 and 50 function as glow discharge elements in a voltage regulating combination connected across said mains 60 and 62. The inductance 58 and the condenser 64 function to aid said electrodes 48 and 50 in controlling fluctuation in the voltage across said mains 60 and 62'to keep it within given limits of value.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fi 3 there is positioned in the sealed envelope %0 a pair of metal boxes 72, 72 which are closed on all sides, which-are connected electrically and supported .by the cross wire 74 which is in turn supported bythe sealed-in conductor 76, which extends through the re-entrant seal-in tube stem 75. This pair of boxes serves the same functions as the said electrode 10 of Fig. 1 when the dividing partition 26 is used therein for preventing the formation of a positive column discharge between anodes 24, 24 which co-operate with electrode 10 in a current rectifying combination. In the device of the present figure a sealed-in conductor 78 carried by a stem 80 mounted to said stem 75 which extends through the bottom of each of said boxes 72, 72 terminates within its respective box electrode 7 2, for co-operation therewith in a point to plate current rectifying function. Each of said stems 80, 80 carries a protecting sleeve 82, 82 of quartz or silica or the like about the portion thereof the current regulating combination connects through wire 74. and inlead' 76 to a positive rectified current output main 60, and a connection is made from said lead 76 through the inductance 58 to an intermediate point on the transformer secondary 54. From an intermediate point of said inductance 58 connection is made to a negative rectified current main 62, and across said mains and 62 is connected the condenser 64. Opposite outer points on said secondary 54 connection is made to respective ones of both of sald conductors 7 8,'and connectionis made from electrode 84 through conductor 86 to said main 62 at a point between condenser 64 and said inductance 58.

In the diagram of Fig. 4 a closed hollow electrode 90 in the envelope 92 containing an atmosphere of a rare gas or other suitable gas or vapor connects through the supporting lead 94 to the positive outputmain 96, and the point electrodes 98, 98 mounted in'said electrode 90 each connects to a respective outer point on the transformer secondary 54 which co-operates with the primary 56-. From an intermediate pointof said secondary 54 through an inductance 99 there connects the negative out main 100. Across said mains 96 and 100 is connected the condenser 102 outside said inductance 99 and from a point on said main 100 outside said condenser connection is made through wire 104 and sealed-in lead 106 to the voltage regulator cathode 108 whose terminal 110 co-operates with an adjacently spaced extension electrode 112 of said electrode 90 in their voltage regulation function.

In the system diagrammatically shown in this figurev suitable provision not shown in detail is provided for preventing gaseous conduction between said electrodes 98, 98 and said electrode 108 and its terminal 110, in

the manner fully described above in the more detailed descriptions of the previous figures, and in this system the said transformer secondary 54 serves to co-operate with said condenser 102 to assist in the voltage regulation of the rectified current passing through said mains 96 and 100.

Fig. 5 illustrates a system similar to that of Fig. 2' except that said hollow cylinder electrode 32 has provided thereinbetween which serves toprevent the formation of a positive column discharge between said elec-.

trodes 38 38'. In other respects the two ionic devices and the connections therefor are similar to those of Fig. 2.

The system illustrated in 6 is similar to that of Fig. 4 except that between the confier anodes and regulator cathode through the as fillin of the devices is prevented by orming t e plate electrode 130 as a partition the pointelectrodes 38 38 the partition 120] to divide the sealed envelope 132 into two compartments 134 and 136 each of which is supplied with a gas filling such as neon, helium, argon, mercury vapor and so on. In said chamber 134 there is mounted the point electrodes 138 in co-operative relation to said electrode 130. Sealed-in leads 140, 140 connect respective electrodes 138 to outer points' on the transformer secondary 142 which cooperates with the primary 144. Connection is made from an intermediate point on said secondary 142 by means of lead 146 to the negative rectified current main 148 and a lead 150 connects said electrode 130 to the positive rectified currentmain 152. In series in said lead 146 is connected an inductance 154'and connection ismade from each end'of said inductance 154 through a respective condenser 1-56 and 158 to said conductor 150. An electrode 160 which co-operates with said electrode 130 in glow discharge voltage regulat ing function connects through lead 162 to said negative main 148.. I

In the diagrammatic illustration of Fig. 8 there is shown a, half wave rectifying system in co-operation with a voltage regulating combination. In this figure the parts are the same asin thediagram of Fig. 7 except that one of said electr0des138 is omitted and said lead 146 connects with an outer point of the transformer secondary 142.

, In the system of electrical distribution illustrated in connection with the ionic device of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 said leads 20, 20 connect to .opposite outer points of the step up transformer 54 which co-operates with the transformer primary 52. From an intermediate point of said primary 54 connection is made through the inductance 163 to the negative C. work circuit main 62. Said lead 8 connects to the positive D. C'.

work circuit main 60 and from said lead 4 a conductor 165 connects to said main 62 outside said inductance 163. Across said inductance 163 and lead 8 on the side toward the transformer is connected the condenser 166- and across lead 8 and said conductor 165 is connected the condenser 167. Said D." C. output mains 60, 62 are shown diagrammatically as being connected to a radio-frequency apparatus such as a radio. receiving device 170 which includes the said electron tube 172 said main 60 being connected conventionally through apparatus 172 to the plate electrode 174 o nects to the filament 176 of the tube, said filasaid tube 172 and said main 62 con-' ment being heated by a suitable source of current not shown. The grid 178 of tube 172 connects through condenser 182 to said main 62. A resistor 184 is connected between the conventional apparatus 170 and grid 17 8 and the resistor 186 is connected across the filament 17 6 and said grid 178. In the use of the device of the invention in connection with the radio circuitshown the said device functions to rectify the alternating current stepped up by the transformer 52, and also functions to regulate the voltage of the rectified current to keep it within narrow limits such as will not be detected in radio receiving outfits in commercial and in general use. Said inductance 163 and the condensers 166 and 167 function to assist the device of the invention in smoothing out the voltage values and in maintaining them between desired limits. It is to be understood however that for some purposes and uses the device of the invention will function alone to secure suitable and desirable voltage regulations.

I claim 1. In a system of electrical distribution an inductive coil adapted for energization with an alternating electromotive force, a gaseous conducting device comprising a. sealed envelope, a filling of gas in said envelope, two point electrodes in said envelope, leads from said point electrodes to spaced apart points on said inductive element, a lead from an intermediate point on said inductive element adapted for connection to a work circuit, a third electrode in said envelope, a lead from said third electrode sealed through said envelope and adapted for connection to said work circuit, a fourth electrode in said envelope in operative relation to said third electrode and insulated against gaseous conduction with said first and second electrodes, and a lead from said fourth electrode to said first work circuit connection.

2. In a system of electrical distribution, an inductive coil adapted for energization with an alternating electromotive force, a gaseous conductin device comprising a sealed envelope, a fi lin of gas in said envelope, two point electro es in said envelope, leads from said point electrodes to spaced apart points on said inductive element, a lead from an intermediate point on said inductive element adapted for connection to'a Work circuit and having a choke coil in series therein, a third electrode in said envelope, a lead from said third electrode sealed through said envelope and adapted for connection to said Work circuit, two condensers each connected from an opposite side of said choke to said third electrode lead, a fourth electrode in said envelope in operative relation to said third electrode and insulated against gaseous conduction with said first and second electrodes, and a lead from said fourth electrode to a point on said first work circuit connection beyond the outer condenser.

3. In asystem of electrical distribution an inductive coil adapted for energization with an alternating electromotive force, a gaseous conducting device comprising a sealed envelope, a filling of gas in said envelope, two point electrodes in said envelope, leads from said point electrodes to spaced apart points on said inductive element, a lead from an intermediate point on said inductive element adapted for connection to a work circuit, a third electrode in said envelope, a lead from said third electrode sealed through said envelope and adapted for connection to said work circuit, a fourth electrode in said envelope in operative relation to said third electrode and insulated against gaseous conduction with said first and second electrodes, and a lead from said fourth electrode to said first work circuit connection, and self-inductance and capacity elements in said work circuit connections.

Signed at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey this 8th day of July A. D. 1927.

TED E. FOULKE. 

